Seat lifting device for use in barbers or beauty parlors and medical facilities

ABSTRACT

The seat portion of a chair is mounted on the upper end of a piston rod connected to a piston reciprocable in a relatively large diameter cylinder in a pedestal portion of the chair. A hydraulic circuit interconnects this cylinder with a smaller diameter cylinder including a reciprocable plunger. A clamp is associated with the piston rod of the large cylinder and fixed against displacement relative to the pedestal portion of the chair. The clamp is a split clamp and is arranged to grip the piston rod to lock it in position. Locking is effected by a brake member oscillatably supported on a wall closing the upper end of a cavity in the pedestal, the brake member having an inclined face engageable with the split clamp to close the clamp. An arm extends from the brake member and is engaged with the upper end of a rod secured to the piston operating in the small cylinder. A foot operated treadle, which is generally U shaped, is connected to the brake member to oscillate the brake member including the arm. Check valves are interposed in oil passages interconnecting the two cylinders and connecting the smaller cylinder with the cavity in the pedestal. When the treadle is raised to a relatively upper position and oscillated, it oscillates the piston in the small cylinder to pump oil beneath the piston in the large cylinder to raise the seat. When the seat is at the desired height, the treadle is raised to its upper limiting position and closes the clamp on the rod connected to the seat to lock the seat in position. To lower the chair, the treadle is moved to its lower limiting position releasing the brake member from the split clamp and allowing the seat and the associated parts to descend under their own weight.

United States Patent 1191 Okiyama SEAT LIFTING DEVICE FOR USE IN BARBERS OR BEAUTY PARLORS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES Inventor: Masaharu Okiyama, 254

Kitahagusa, Higashiosaka-shi, Osaka, Japan Primary Examiner-Martin P. Schwadron Assistant Examiner-Allen M. Ostrager Attorney-John J. McGlew et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT The seat portion of a chair is mounted on the upper end of a piston rod connected to a piston reciprocable in a relatively large diameter cylinder in a pedestal portion of the .chair. A hydraulic circuit interconnects this cylinder with a smaller diameter cylinder including a reciprocable plunger. A clamp is associated with the piston rod of the large cylinder and fixed against displacement relative to the pedestal portion of the chair. The clamp is a split clamp and is arranged to grip the piston rod to lock it in position. Locking is effected by a brake member oscillatably supported on a wall closing the upper end of a cavity in the pedestal, the brake member having an inclined face engageable with the split clamp to close the clamp. An arm extends from the brake member and is engaged with the upper end of a rod secured to the piston operating in the small cylinder. A foot operated treadle, which is generally U shaped, is connected to the brake member to oscillate the brake member including the arm. Check valves are interposed in oil passages interconnecting the two cylinders and connecting the smaller cylinder with the cavity in the pedestal. When the treadle is raised to a relatively upper position and oscillated, it oscillates the piston in the small cylinder to pump oil beneath the piston in the large cylinder to raise the seat. When the seat is at the desired height, the treadle is raised to its upper limiting position and closes the clamp on the rod connected to the seat to lock the seat in position. To lower the chair, the treadle is moved to its lower limiting position releasing the brake member from the split clamp and allowing the seat and the associated parts to descend under their own weight.

5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures mmxsm PATENTED BET 9 I 75 WEE? 1% 2 Fig, I

INVENTOil MHSRHHRU OKIYHMH BY 4 772%) ATTORNEY PATENTED 9 I973 SHEET 2 BF 2 ATTORNEY BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of this invention is to provide a v chair, usable for business, in which the seat is raised or lowered with a treadle operation, wherein, by only controlling the treadle pressure of a pedal rod, a treadle operation can raise or lower the seat portion, or fix its height, lightly and smoothly without using an operator's hands. A secondary object of this invention is to provide a chair, for use in business in which the seat portion is raised and lowered by a treadle operation, wherein, when a treadle pedal is moved upward or downward at a relatively higher position, the seat portion continues to be raised, when the pedal rod is shifted to the highest position, the seat portion is held stationary and, if the pedal rod is depressed to the lowest position the seat portion is lowered.

Another secondary object of this invention is to provide a check valve, or oil valve both mounted in an oiling pressure circuit which is association with the treadle pedal, from oil-proof resilient material, or to make only the contact faces of the valves from such resilient material, so that the good contacting function of the re silient material assures oil pressure opening or closing the valves rapidlly and completely.-

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. I shows a longitudinal sectional view through the principal parts of the device according to this invention, mounted on the the chair pedestal or support portion tan beneath the seat portion of the chair.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of only a braking mechanism at the upper part of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a left side elevation view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5 5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6 6 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a closure member.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a treadle pedal rod.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a the treadle pedal rod.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion provided with a check valve.

FIG. 11 is an illustrative side elevation view of an oil control valve portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT According to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of this invention will be described. This device is mounted between seat portions and pedestal portion of the chair. The seat portion or other unnecessary portions are not illustrated in the drawings.

With reference to FIG. 1, in the inner portion of the main body or pedestal portion 11 of the chair, a large diameter cylinder 12 and a small diameter cylinder 13 are mounted and disposed in parallel relation. A seat plunger is inserted through a closure member 14 closing the upper portion of main body 11 and through the large diameter cylinder 12. The upper end of the seat plunger 15 is connected to a seat 45. A pressure piston 16 is inserted into the small diameter cylinder 13 and a rod head 34 is protruded by the pushing action of the upper end of the pressure piston 16. The function of the rod head 34 is described clearly later.

A clamping metal fitting l8 embraces the portion of the seat plunger 15 which projects above the upper face of closure body 14. The clamping metal fitting I8 is made, as shown clearly in FIG. 2 4, of U-shape member generally to embrace said plunger 15. A split slot 17 is formed in the metal fitting I8. Accordingly, when the space of the slot 17 is made narrow, the plunger 15 is embraced firmly by the fitting I8 and both the metal fitting and plunger 15 are jointed together. The fastening metal fitting 18 is fixed to the closure body 14 by means of a bolt 20 inserted threadly and vertically into a leg portion 19 of the U-shaped metal fitting 18.

There are two same bearings 21 on the right and left sides of said metal fitting 18 (FIG. 3). The bearing 2R supports the shaft 24 of the braking block 23, and the block 23 is mounted so as to cover the upper face of the metal fitting 18. A braking wall or face 22 which is composed of a vertical inclined face formed in the inner wall of the block 23 is positioned so as to contact adequately with the leg portion. When, therefore, the braking block 23 is moved about the centers of the members 21, 24, the braking wall 22 formed on the inner face of the leg is lowered and pushes the leg of the fastening metal fitting I8, thus the metal fitting 18 is secured firmly to the seat plunger 15. In other way, as the braking wall or face 22 is raised and the pressure force is reduced, the metal fitting 18 and the seat plunger 15 are made so as to slide.

A cavity Ila, formed in the main body 11, is closed by the closure body 14 and filled with oil under pressure. An oil hole or port 26 is formed centrally through the base of cylinder 13. This oil passage communicates with lower valve chamber 27. An oil flowing hole or port 30 connects lower valve chamber 27 with the large diameter cylinder 12. There is a check valve 28 within the valve chamber 27. The check valve 28 is pressed constantly toward the lower opening of the oil hole 26 by means of coil spring 38. The check valve 28 is made from resilient material, such as oil-proofed synthetic rubber or synthetic resin. A flange 32 is formed on the outer periphery of the press piston 16 inserted through the upper opening of small diameter cylinder 13, and a strong coil spring 33 is set in compressed condition between the flange 32 and the bottom face of the cavity I la. Accordingly, the rod head 34 of press piston 16 is pressed constantly against the lower face of the arm rod shaft 35 of the braking block 23. The rod 36 protruding from the bottom center of piston 16 is inserted in the oil hole 26 of the cylinder bottom in such a manner that there is a clearance about the periphery of the rod 36. When the piston 16 in the cylinder reaches its lower limiting position, the end of the rod 36 strikes the check valve 28 to open the oil hole 26.

An upper opening of an oil passage 39, formed vertically in the piston 16, communicates with the cavity 11a, and lower opening of passage 39 communicates with an oil chamber 31 formed in the bottom of the cylinder 13.

In addition, and as best seen in FIG. Ill, another passage is formed between cavity Illa and cylinder I3 beneath piston 16. A check valve 40, which is substantially identical with check valve 28 is positioned in this passage in such a manner that it acts in the direction opposite to that of the action of valve 28. Both check valves 28, 40 are the same in construction and they are made of an oil-proofed resilient material. In consequence, the contacting faces of the valves contact with that of the valve seats adequately, and also if dust or foreign material are contained in oil, they are absorbed into the resilient material so that good contactibility is sustained. Because end portions 45 of the pedal rod 44, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, are fitted to the shaft 24 of braking block 23, the action of the braking block 23 and the oil pressure of both cylinders 12, 13 are controlled by the operation of treadle portion 46.

The operation of the disclosed embodiment of this invention will become apparent from the following description.

When the seat of the chair is to be raised, first the pedal rod 44 is oscillated vertically while tread portion 46 of the pedal rod is maintained at a relatively upper position. The oscillating movement of the pedal rod is transferred to the braking block 23 through the end portions 45 of the pedal rod 44, but the force resulting from the oscillating movement is not sufficient to contact and press the braking wall 22 against clamping metal fitting 18, so that the arm rod shaft 35 of the braking block 23 transfers the oscillating action to the piston 16 through the upper rod head 34 of the small piston. As a result of the oscillating action, oil pressure is developed in the bottom portion of cylinder 13 and the oil pressure is introduced into the cylinder 12 through the oil hole 26, chamber 27 and the oil flowing hole 30, whereby the seat plunger and the seat 45 are raised.

While the above action is continued, in accordance with the lifting and suction action of the pressure piston 16, the other check valve 40 lets oil flow from the cavity 11a connected to the check valve so as to supply the oil to the lower oil chamber of piston 16.

When the seat is locked at any position, the treadle portion 46 of pedal rod 44 is raised to its uppermost position and the braking block 23 fixed to the shaft 24 is lowered, the braking wall 22 embraces and closes the clamping metal fitting 18, and the seat plunger 15 is fixed.

When the seat is to be lowered, the treadle portion 46 of the pedal rod 44 is lowered by foot to lowest position, the braking wall 22 of the braking block is raised and the holding action of the metal fitting 18 is released. Thus, the plunger 15 and the metal fitting l8 become relatively slidable, and piston 16 in cylinder 13 is pushed downwardly to the lowest position, and the shaft rod 36 pushes the check valve 28 to open the oil hole 26. Accordingly, oil in the cylinder 12 holding the seat plunger 15 in raised position is introduced into the oil chamber 31 through the oil flowing hole 30, the valve chamber 27 and oil hole 26, and returned to the cavity lla through the oil flowing hole 39 of cylinder 16. Thus, oil pressure in the cylinder 12 is dropped rapidly. Resultantly, the seat plunger 15 and the seat portion are lowered elastically and comfortably.

While certain forms of the invention have been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a chair for business, having a seat secured to a plunger and adjustable in height by a treadle operation for use by barbers or in medical facilities, a seat lifting device comprising, in combination, a main support body beneath the seat of the chair and provided with a closed oil pressure cavity, a relatively large diameter cylinder provided with a piston connected to the seat plunger arranged vertically in said main support body, a relatively small diameter cylinder provided with a pressure piston, a clamping metal fitting fixed to a closure of the oil pressure cavity of said main body and having free leg portions, said clamping fitting embracing said seat plunger, a bearing on said clamping fitting, a braking block secured to a supporting shaft supported by said bearing and provided with at least one braking face confronting a free leg portion of said clamping fitting, a foot operated treadle secured to said supporting shaft for oscillation as a unit with said braking block, said pressure piston being provided with an end portion projecting above the top face of said oil pressure cavity closure, said relatively small diameter cylinder being formed with an oil flow passage beneath said pressure piston communicating with said oil pressure cavity, a valve chamber in the lower end of said relatively small diameter cylinder and communicating with said oil flow passage, a check valve in said valve chamber and controlling flow through said oil flow passage, said pressure piston having a rod-like extension on its lower end projectable into said oil flow passage to open said check valve, a second oil flow passage connecting said check valve chamber to a space in said relatively large diameter cylinder beneath the piston thereof, a further oil flow passage connecting said-space to said cavity, and a second check valve controlling flow of oil through said further oil flow passage.

2. A seat lifting devicce for use by barbers or in medical facilities, as claimed in claim 1, in which said check valves close in flow directions which are opposed to each other.

3. A seat lifting device for use by barbers or in medical facilities, as claimed in claim 1, in which said treadle is a substantially U-shaped rod having both ends secured in said supporting shaft of said braking block.

4. A seat lifting device for use by barbers or in medical facilities, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure piston is spring biased in an upward direction and said check valves are spring biased in the closing direction.

5. A seat lifting device for use by barbers or in medical facilities as claimed in claim 1 wherein the check valves have contacting faces made of oil-proofed resilient material. 

1. In a chair for business, having a seat secured to a plunger and adjustable in height by a treadle operation for use by barbers or in medical facilities, a seat lifting device comprising, in combination, a main support body beneath the seat of the chair and provided with a closed oil pressure cavity, a relatively large diameter cylinder provided with a piston connected to the seat plunger arranged vertically in said main support body, a relatively small diameter cylinder provided with a pressure piston, a clamping metal fitting fixed to a closure of the oil pressure cavity of said main body and having free leg portions, said clamping fitting embracing said seat plunger, a bearing on said clamping fitting, a braking block secured to a supporting shaft supported by said bearing and provided with at least one braking face confronting a free leg portion of said clamping fitting, a foot operated treadle secured to said supporting shaft for oscillation as a unit with said braking block, said pressure piston being provided with an end portion projecting above the top face of said oil pressure cavity closure, said relatively small diameter cylinder being formed with an oil flow passage beneath said pressure piston communicating with said oil pressure cavity, a valve chamber in the lower end of said relatively small diameter cylinder and communicating with said oil flow passage, a check valve in said valve chamber and controlling flow through said oil flow passage, said pressure piston having a rod-like extension on its lower end projectable into said oil flow passage to open said check valve, a second oil flow passage connecting said check valve chamber to a space in said relatively large diameter cylinder beneath the piston thereof, a further oil flow passage connecting said space to said cavity, and a second check valve controlling flow of oil through said further oil flow passage.
 2. A seat lifting devicce for use by barbers or in medical facilities, as claimed in claim 1, in which said check valves close in flow directions which are opposed to each other.
 3. A seat lifting device for use by barbers or in medical facilities, as claimed in claim 1, in which said treadle is a substantially U-shaped rod having both ends secured in said supporting shaft of said braking block.
 4. A seat lifting device for use by barbers or in medical facilities, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure piston is spring biased in an upward direction and said check valves are spring biased in the closing direction.
 5. A seat lifting device for use by barbers or in medical facilities as claimed in claim 1 wherein the check valves have contacting faces made of oil-proofed resilient material. 